Baring your midriff is a trend best suited if you have flat abs and bold confidence in your shape. It makes a completely different statement when you’re pregnant. Once the wonderful news of your new addition sinks in, you’ll soon discover that your clothing is a challenge—and I’m not talking about a style dilemma. In my case, my business and casual wardrobe no longer fit and despite a bit of creativity and the use of clothing that I had always intended to take in, my expanding waistline was hard to miss. Proud as I was of my pregnancy, I did not want to flash everyone. My tops were never long enough to cover my belly and the oh-so-difficult-to-close waistband of my pants. The answer, of course, was to explore my options for maternity wear. However, I found my investments—maternity garments are not cheap or sadly not well made—either offered a short-term solution for the early stages of pregnancy or were way too big for the moment. Thankfully, a salesperson introduced me to the concept of a belly band also known as a belly tube, tummy tube or belly wrap.

Basically, it’s a tube top for your midsection, offering you a fashionable layered look and way to expand your wardrobe in several manners. Now my top recommendation for pregnant friends, the belly band is a soft, stretchy tube of fabric that conceals unbuttoned pre-pregnancy pants or skirts, lengthens your tops to hide unattractive elastic waistbands or expandable tummy panels, and gives you the opportunity to wear your larger-sized maternity pants or skirts without risk of them hitting the floor. Flasher will not be among your new nick names. Instead, you’ll be eagerly and proudly welcoming “Mamma” or “Mommy” to your list.

Available in an assortment of colors, Lavinia Activewear offers a Meryl, microfiber tube top for your pre-pregnancy days that doubles as a belly band during your pregnancy. Honestly, I found it more comfortable than the tighter elastic bands sold in popular maternity shops. Select a color that matches your pants, skirts or tops or which contrasts their colors for a more noticeable layered look. Simply, fold the belly band in half for a snug fit over your waistband (softer and gentler than a belt) or wear the top half over your tummy like a cummerbund so that it keeps you from flashing skin and warm in the winter!! As the soft fabric is ideal for activewear, it allows your perspiration to escape from your body to the outer air. Even better, you can use this versatile belly band as a tube top post-pregnancy.

As a lingerie retailer, bra extenders shouldn’t make sense. If your bra band is too tight, you should be fitted for a new size. I can’t say it often enough. In fact, industry specialists claim that over 75% of women are wearing the wrong bra size. Although in the past year, I discovered that bra extenders have their uses.

During pregnancy and the early weeks of breastfeeding, your breast size is in a state of flux. And while buying a new bra every few weeks is great for retailers, it’s not very practical. This is where bra extenders come in handy. The band size of your bra can temporarily be extended while your body changes in preparation for the baby. You can use either one or two extenders. Personally, I found one to be sufficient. They typically come in sets of two and often in neutral colors such as nude, white and black. In a nut shell, they are small pieces of material, similar to the back closure of your bra, with either one, two or three rows of hook and eye closures. If you decide to try them, first take a look at your current bra(s) to see how many rows are present. Based on the bra style and size, the number of rows will vary. Typically, larger band and cup sizes have more rows for additional support. Don’t forget to make a mental note of the count as they do not work well on a mismatched number of rows. If you find yourself in a similar situation during your pregnancy, check out this inexpensive and quick solution for your expanding body and overall comfort.